Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1887-1890, 1887-06-15
A BOOM COMING.
at WI Exceed n Magntud
the Booms that Have Occur
red n Montana"

red n Montana"
GREAT FALLS, June Editor Gazette;
In compliance with your request, l send
YOU some Of the facts about this much
talked of city of the future. Some years
ago Mr.. Paris Gibson, well-knoWn in
connection with the wool industry OF Mon
tana, became impressed with the idea that
the unlimited water-power OF the falls of
the Missouri, could be utilized to build
up a second Minneapolis. Just above the
upper, or Black Eagle falls, he found a
magnificent location for such a city, and
after due consideration Of its advantages,
submitted the project to Mr.. Hill, of the
St Paul, Minneapolis & Manitoba railroad.
MI. Hill took in the situation, and asso-
ciating with him a dozen other capitalists,
each worth over ..s10,O00,000, acquired a
large tract of land on each side of the Mis-
souri-so large as ito prevent all posi-
bility of interference from outside parties.
In due time the townside wa plated, and
a small portion of it settled by the present
old-timers, who had unlimited confidence
in the Judgment OF Mr.. Gibson, and of
his associates. The subsequent history of
the town, upto the present, is tolerably
we'll known. The rapid approach of the
Manitoba track has awakened a boom,
which will soon exceed in magnitude all
the booms that have ever occurred in
Montana. It will reach its height when
the thousands Of graders, tracklayers and
camp followers, that now swarm over the
country for some distance from the end of
the track, pour into the future great city
of the northwest.
The town is situated on the east bank of
the river. and the plain on the west side Is
reserved for the vast track system, round
houses, machine shops, and other terminal
works of the Manitoba ssand Montana Cen
trail. About two miles below the present
business center are Black Eagle falls,
which are 81 feet high, and with the
rapids above give a head of fifty feet. At
the head of the rapids will be built an i'm
mense dam, to control the vast water
power for the manufacturing purposes.
Among the industries to be established
by the company are iron works to convert
the ore of Sand Coulee into steel rails, car
wheels, ETC., and reduction works on the
plan of those at Swansea. The chief re-
ducing agent will be the Sand Coulee
coal, which is contained in a seam varying
from six to sixteen feet thick.
1t is expected that the various works to
be commenced this summer will, two
years from now give permanent employ
ment to from 5000 to 1000 men, forming
a substantial basis for a city of from 49,
600 to 10000 souls.
When these vast results are achieved, it
should be remembered that the head
which originated them, rests gracefully on
the shoulders of Paris Gibson, who was
the subject of much local ridicule when
he first suggested the possibility of a town
being built at Great Falls. Such is u.s.
ually the case, and it is also true that the
inventor and originator is often forgotten,
while others reap the glory and the
profits.
The materials from which this city will
be built are chiefly the water-power, the
coal, iron and excellent building stone of
Sand Coulee, and the ores of the tributary.
mining districts, the capital that is to de-
velop them, and the unlimited confidence
In the future betrayed by every citizen.
IF the citizens of Billings would possess
themselves with the same enthusiasm, and
work as unanimously for the construction
of railroads and Introduction of capital to
develop the magnificent resources that
surround them, Billings would also take
a front place among the cities of the west,
as those resources are u%nequalled in any
other section in quality, quantity, " va
riety.
The prices of Great Falls real estate are
so high that spectators who invest must
have great faith in the future of the town.
Those who investigate appear to acquire
the necessary faith, as many sales are
made at figures that would stagger q Bill
1ingsite. Mathematicians figure out the
total value of the townsite at present pri-
ces, at from $~12,0O0,O00 to $4,000 900.
There are over 1000 lots, each 50x150 feet
equal to $4,000 of the usual size.
The Giant spring, three miles below
town, discharges a volume of pure wator
equal to a river 70 feet wide and two feet
deep, running on a sharp grade. The
water will be forced into town
through a Holly system of water works.
Building operations are active. Eight
or nine large brick and stone buildings
are now under contract to be built within
q year.
AIuOuS tic ~D1iIiHSsltto ACAC p y. y.
Klambeck who is busy with building con-
tracts, and F. M. Morgan who has set up
business as an architect and superinten-
dent. j. r. Bond arrived last night, and
George Cans a couple of days ago. Jack
Stone and Mr.. Chapman are here and
seem to be prospecting.
Madam Dupont is doing a rushing bust
NESS In the St. Elmo hotel, and Is said to
set the best table in town.
The Park hotel is an enormous frame
structure, four stories high, and it rates
are about the same height, if not higher.
1t is a remarkably fine hotel TO E such a
small town, as regards appoint ments and
management. Its proprietor Mr.. Ehrhart
was formerly a DINING car conductor on
the Northern Pacifc.-smi o an tie BIZ
langs Gazette.
SPRAY OF TIE FALLS.